Could My Pet Benefit From Rehabilitation?
There are some obvious cases where rehabilitation can benefit animals including spinal injury, osteoarthritis, or cruciate ligament rupture. But small injuries can happen during normal life and dogs are generally quite stoic and are very good at hiding subtle injuries. If these injuries aren’t picked up on, then as the dog ages, they will adapt how they move and hold themselves, either making the injury worse or causing other areas...
Devices for Pets with Knuckling or Dragging Paws
There are many conditions that produce weakness and can lead to knuckling or dragging of the front and hind paws and limbs. Conditions that can affect the hind legs include degenerative myelopathy (DM), sciatic nerve injury, disc disease, and spinal cord injury. Brachial plexus and radial nerve injuries can cause front paw knuckling or limb dragging. A fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) can affect either or both the front and hind legs and paws. Regardless...
GET A GRIP: Keeping Seniors, Injured, and Weak Dogs Safe at Home
Older dogs and those with injuries or balance issues can have trouble moving around the home, especially on slippery surfaces like tile or wood floors. Some dogs react to slippery floors by not wanting to get up or walk - they lack confidence and will elect to "stay put" rather than risk slipping. Pets that are nervous about moving around can become weak because they are less active. Other dogs are less self-protective or fearful,...
BRACE YOURSELF: The Importance of Custom Bracing for Dogs
In veterinary medicine, custom splints and braces are becoming standard practice. Why is it important to provide custom supports for dogs? First, let's take a look at us - humans. There are hundreds of different types of splints and braces made for humans. They come in various ready-made, off-the-shelf sizes (usually from XS to XXL sizes) and are made for practically every part of the body (see image below). These off-the-shelf splints and braces...
Great Trick for Using Pawz for Anti-Slip
Dog Boots The trouble with using dog boots to provide indoor traction is that a dog's paw is essentially round, and booties (or anything that is not really snug and form-fitting) tends to spin on the dog's paws. Then, you end up having the "traction" tread material on the top of the foot and the slick non-treaded material at the bottom of the foot. The other issue is that most dog boots are not...
What Do We Know About Rehab Modalities in Horses?
While people might extol the virtues of various rehabilitation modalities, those testimonials rarely rely on the science surrounding the techniques. Following injuries, which are frequent events in athletic horses, owners and trainers commonly seek one or more alternative therapies to facilitate rehabilitation. While many people extol the virtues of rehabilitation modalities, claiming they expedite the healing process or even cure the horse, those testimonials rarely rely on the science surrounding...
He's 13 Years Old And Has Had 16 Surgeries But Benny Remains ‘THE HAPPIEST PUP EVER’
A VITAL VET Publication: "Options" - that's what pet parents need. What are the options for my pet? How do I know what to choose? Here at Vital Vet, that's what we provide - OPTIONS. Need a sling or harness? How do I keep my dog safe at home? What are my options for providing him with traction or protection? Is there a rehab professional that can help me at...
Wraps and Braces for Carpal and Tarsal Injuries
The excerpt below is from an article by Drs. Gayle Jaeger and Sherman Canapp on carpal and tarsal injuries in dogs first seen in Clean Run Magazine in 2008. Though it's an older article, it is well-organized and still relevant. Carpal (front leg wrist) and tarsal (back leg ankle) injuries are common in larger and more active dogs but can occur in any dog and breed. Canine athletes are more prone to these injuries...